Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Is it time to remove your wisdom teeth? Let us help!

Our dentists and team offer wisdom teeth removal in Gainesville, Virginia, to help our patients get relief from the discomfort that can come from impacted, infected or crowding third molars. To visit GoSmiles Dentistry for a wisdom teeth removal consultation, we invite you to reach out today at 703-753-3346!

Why Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Wisdom teeth are the final molars to erupt out of the gumline. They appear at the very back of the mouth, usually in a person’s teens or early twenties. If they come in correctly, without causing crowding issues, patients might not even notice them.

Usually, wisdom teeth are removed to avoid overcrowding. Because wisdom teeth are superfluous, they can interfere with the healthy alignment and position of the other teeth. It can even cause damage to the jaw and make it difficult to keep the teeth clean and free from decay and disease. Chronic oral infections can even exacerbate more systemic issues like diabetes and inflammatory or cardiovascular diseases. However, our oral surgeon can examine your smile before these symptoms appear and determine if wisdom teeth removal is right for you.

To help keep you comfortable during your appointment, our surgeon will discuss your options for sedation.

Should Wisdom Teeth Always Be Removed?

Wisdom teeth are a natural part of your smile. These teeth, though often removed by dentists, are not inherently bad. If they grow properly, they can function well in your mouth.

Each patient is different. Though around 85% of patients have their wisdom teeth removed, some patients can still have a healthy smile if they keep these molars. Our office will recommend removal if your teeth cause either of these problems:

Impaction: This happens when the teeth get stuck and cannot erupt above the gumline. This may be because it leans against the neighboring teeth, causing them to shift. It may also be because there is another obstruction preventing the teeth from growing into the jawbone.

Overcrowding: With many patients, their mouths don’t have the space for the third molars. The other teeth can spread and take up space, so the wisdom teeth become impacted or shift and twist the neighboring teeth. These changes can cause an uneven or unhealthy bite.

While some of these problems can be overcome with orthodontics or other dental treatments, sometimes the best course of action is tooth removal. Tooth removal may be recommended for abnormal growths or cysts, or if the third molars become impacted within the gumline.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

The wisdom teeth procedure will depend on your unique smile and the position of your teeth. If you are moving all four wisdom teeth or if they are impacted into the bone, the appointment will take longer. Most third molar extractions will be completed in-office.

Preparation: If your smile has been affected by an infection, this will need to be treated before your wisdom teeth removal. This is usually more common in older patients who are having their teeth extracted later in life. Our dentists may prescribe antibiotics to help clear up the infection.

Anesthesia: With a dental extraction, our dentists will need to use at least a local anesthesia for numbing the area. Sometimes our dentists will also use a general anesthesia to help keep the patient calm. This will depend on the nature of the procedure, the age of the patient and their health. We also will take into account how a patient feels about their upcoming procedure and whether general anesthesia will be beneficial.

Surgery: Our dentists will first make an incision into the soft tissue covering the tooth. The tooth will then be exposed so the doctor can remove it from the bone. In cases where the tooth is severely impacted, this will require our dentists to remove the tooth enamel in sections.

Stiches: In most cases, our dentists will need to stitch up the site following an extraction. Over time, this area will grow back the bone and soft tissue to fill in the extraction site.

Recovery: Recovery from wisdom teeth removal takes around two to three days. Your smile may be a little sore and you will need to keep to a liquid and soft food diet. After this period, you can resume normal activity.

If you believe you need to schedule a wisdom teeth extraction, contact our office today.